Local News

Yet another voice is urging the Forest Service to reject Stilo’s land grab which would expand long Jim Loop Road enabling Stilo’s controversial development that would add thousands of homes to Tusayan and three million square feet of commercial space.

Stilo wants to greatly expand the road to make its development plans work and it needs the blessing of the national Forest service to do that

The Hopi Tribe has long been opposed to the development project itself. Now the tribe has come out against the road to Kotztin which would take school district land, increase traffic next to the town park, and harm existing businesses by diverting traffic. That’s in addition to harming the environment.

On October 6th Leigh J. Kuwanwisiwma, Director of Hopi Cultural Preservation Office sent a letter to the new supervisor for the Kaibab National Forest, Heather Provencio, outlining tribal concerns. Citing longstanding opposition to the Stilo project the letter concludes by expressing opposition and a request to be informed as to the status of the Stilo road request.

“Based on the proposed development and lack of identified water source, the area of potential effect for this proposal should include the roads, the ranches, the surrounding Forest, and the adjacent Grand Canyon National Park. We understand the Proponents have verbally indicated they will not use ground water, and that a water source will be identified in the Forest’s analysis. The water source and it delivery to the development must then also be considered as within the area of potential effect for this proposal.

We have determined that this action will adversely affect the Grand Canyon Traditional Cultural Property, and will have a significant adverse effect on the environment. Therefore, we strongly oppose the proposed action. And therefore, unless the Forest identifies another alternative to the proposed action that meets the purpose and need of the Hopi Tribe and is responsive to our comments and the comments of other tribes and the public, we will support the no action alternative in the environmental assessment and support further analysis in an environmental impact statement.”Here is a link to the entire letter.